In many ways, the UFC took a few pages out of boxing’s book when it came into existence nearly 26 years ago. Among them were the 10-point must system, the three judges scoring the fight, and ring girls.
But unlike boxing, the UFC’s Octagon girls hold the same popularity as many marquee fighters. The likes of Arianny Celeste, Brittney Palmer, and Rachelle Leah back in her day, have made a name holding up round cards, which eventually gave themselves other opportunities outside of the UFC.
For Lord Mayor of Melbourne Sally Capp, however, such a practice is outdated and should no longer exist in this day and age.
“It’s 2019, do we really still need scantily-clad women to wander around the middle of a fighting ring between rounds?” Capp recently told the Herald Sun (via MMA Mania). “Grid girls are no longer part of Formula One; walk-on girls are no longer part of professional darts — surely it’s time to move on.”
During the controversial boxing match between Jeff Horn and Michael Zerafa in Bendigo, Australia in late August, ring card girls were replaced by men referred to as “Fight Progress Managers.”
If Capp can somehow make it happen, the same treatment could be done for UFC 243, which takes place in her city on October 6th. Headlined by a middleweight tiff between champion Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya, the event will take place at the Marvel Stadium, Melbourne’s 50,000-seater arena.
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